Pressure release closure device



April l4,' 1941- s. R. ETNYRE I PRESSURE RELEASE CLOSURE DEVICE FiledAug. 4, 1940 NVBNTCV cSQ'm 9/ @434;

Patented Apr. 14, 1942 FlCE PRESSURE RELEASE CLOSURE DEVICE,

Samuel R. Etnyre, Oregon, Ill., assignor to E. D. Etnyre & Company,Oregon, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application August 4,1940,Serial No. 351,420

6 Claims.

The invention relates to closure devices generally, and moreparticularly to an improved safety closure device of the type suitablefor closing manholes or the like, in tanks and other vessels whichnormally operate at relatively low pressures, but which are occasionallysubjected to sudden increases in pressure.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved closure device ofthe above general character which can be securely latched in place toefiectually seal the vessel as long as normal operating conditions aremaintained and which is adapted to release automatically and open thevessel when the pressure therein exceeds a predetermined value.

Another object is to provide improved release mechanism for closuredevices of the above general character which is efficient and reliablein operation and adapted to respond to relatively small increases inpressure.

It is also an object of the invention .to provide a pressure releaseclosure device of simple, rugged construction which is easy tomanipulate and inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects and. advantages of the invention will become apparent fromthe following detailed description of the preferred embodimentillustrated in the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of 'a closure device embodying thefeatures of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a partly sectioned side elevational view of the device.

Fig. 3 is an end elevational view of the device showing the relativepositions of the parts as the automatic release is initiated.

While the invention is susceptible of various modifications andalternative constructions, I have shown in the drawing and will hereindescribe in detail the preferred embodiment, but it is to be understoodthat I do not thereby intend to limit the invention to the specific formdisclosed, but intend to cover all modifications and alternativeconstructions falling within the spirit and scope of the invention asexpressed in the appended claims.

For purposes of illustration, the improved closure device has been shownas applied to a generally cylindrical sheet metal tank or drum 5 such asis commonly used in apparatus for applying heated asphalt or otherbituminous material to road surfaces and the like. For filling andcleaning purposes, the tank is usually provided with an opening such asa manhole, in its upper side. As herein shown, the opening is defined byan upstanding neck or flange 6 which terminates in a rolled bead I. Inorder to conserve heat and to avoid loss of material and possible injuryto workmen by splashing of the heated material, the manhole or openingis desirably closed by a closure which can be removed to provideconvenient access to the interior of the tank.

In the exemplary embodiment, the closure includes a cover member 8adapted to seat on the bead 1. The cover member is desirably hinged atone side on the tank structure so that it may be swung between open andclosed positions and suitable latching means is provided at the otherside forlatching the member in closed position. Under normal conditionsof use, the tanks for the above mentioned apparatus are ordinarilyoperated substantially at or slightly above atmospheric pressure. Attimes, .however, there may be a sudden increase in pressure which mightseriously damage the apparatus unless promptly relieved. Such relief isprovided by the present invention by reason of the novel any suitablematerial and, of course, is shaped to fit the opening in the tank towhich it is applied. As herein shown, the member is of circular,generally cup-shaped form dimensioned to fit snuglyon the bead l.Extending across the top of the member are spaced parallel strips 9 andIII of sufficient length to extend substantially beyond the edges of thecover. The strips are preferably of steel or other resilient materialand are riveted or otherwise rigidly secured to the cover member.

As will be seen by reference to Figs. 1 and 2, the ends of the strips atone side of the cover areb ent downwardly as at H and the ends arerolled to form a pair of alined sockets for the reception of anelongated pivot bar l2 on which the cover is normally adapted to swing.Rigidly secured to the neck portion 6 of the tank are a pair oflaterally projecting brackets l3, each formed with an upwardly openingrecess l4 providing a fulcrum for the pivot bar I2.

The bar I 2 is normally held in bearing engagement in the recesses M bya pressure release mechanism including a flat spring member 15 socketsfor an. elongated cross bar N3 of a latch member indicated generally at[9. The latch member, as herein shown, comprises a pair of spaced,generally triangular side members 20 pivotally supported on the bar. 18in spaced relation. The side members carry between them an off-set latchpin 2| which, in this instance, is located just below the bar l8 andadapted to cooperate with a keeper 22 fixed to the neck 6 of the tank,the keeper being notched as at- 23 to receive the latch pin. Due to theoff-set location of the latch pin, the cover member is readily drawninto sealing relation to the opening and is effectually held there bytheweight of the parts. A handle member 24 fixed to the outer ends ofthe side members provides convenient means by which the latch can beconveniently swung between latching and releasing positions.

. The cover may be securely latched in closed position by simply rockingthe latch device to a substantially horizontal position as shown in Fig.2. The resilient character of the strips 9 and I0, insures accurateseating of the cover member on the head 1. Any increase in pressure inthe tank tends to force the cover member upwardly whereby the sprin I isadditionally flexed so that its effective length is reduced sufficientlyto allow the ends'to slip-between the brackets l3 as shown in Fig. 3.Under these the pivot bar l2 are bent to form a pair of alined theprojecting ends of said strips being bent to form alined pairs ofsockets at opposite sides of the cover member, an elongated barextending between each pair of I sockets, a latch member mounted on oneof said bars and cooperating with means on the tank structure to latchthe cover member in closed position, a; pair of spaced brackets mountedon the tank structure, each bracket having an upwardly opening notch forthe reception of the other of said bars, a flat spring operativelysecured at an intermediate point to said other bar and having itsopposite ends engaged under the respective brackets to releasably holdthe bar in said recesses whereby the cover is normally permitted topivot on the bar and swing between open and closed positions, saidspring flexing to slide between the brackets and thus release the coverfor pivoting on the first mentioned bar when the pressure on the innerside of the cover reaches a prede- I termined value.

2. A closure device for openings in tanks or the like comprising, incombination, a cover member shaped to fit the opening, a pair of spacedparallel strips secured to the cover member with their ends projectingover the edges of the cover, a bar conditions, the cover member pivotsabout the bar l8 and swings to open position, thus venting the tank tothe atmosphere and relieving the pressure. The point at which therelease occurs is dependent upon the resistance of the spring member l5which, of course, can' be constructed to provide for release of anydesired predetermined pressure. It is found in practice that mechanismof this character will operate reliably upon pressure changes as low asthree pounds per square inch. After such automatic release, the partsmay be quickly and easily reassembled by simply inserting the spring 15through the yoke and forcing its ends under thebrackets l3.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that extending-between theprojecting ends of the strips on each side of the cover member, latchmeans mounted on one of the bars cooperating with means on the tankstructure for disengageably latching the cover'in, closed position, apair of spaced laterally projecting brackets mounted on the tankstructure, upwardly opening notches in said brackets positioned toreceive the other of the bars, a flat spring operatively connected atits mid-point to said other bar and having its opposite ends engagedunder the respective brackets to yieldably hold the bar in said recessesso that the cover may pivot on the bar when the latch is disengaged,said spring flexing to slide between the brackets and allow the covermemher to pivot on the first mentioned bar when the latch is engaged andthe pressure applied to the inner side of the cover member exceeds apredetermined value. 3- A closure device for openings in tanksor thelike comprising, in combination, a cover member 7 shaped to fit theopening, a pair of bars mounted respectively at opposite sides of thecover member, a latch carried by one bar for disengageably latching thecover member in closed position, a

pair of spaced, laterally projecting brackets mounted on thetank'structure, upwardly opening recesses in said brackets positioned toreceive the invention provides an improved closure device for manholesand similar openings in tanks or other vessels which are occasionallysubjected to sudden increases in pressure. The novel pressure releasemeans provided by the invention allows the cover member of the closuredevice to release automatically when the pressure in the vessel reachesa predetermined value, thus effectually preventing damage to the vessel.This release mechanism is of simple and rugged construction, is veryeasy to manipulate and is ex-.

ceedingly eflicient and reliable in operation.

I claim as my invention:

1. A closure device for openings in tanks or the like comprising, incombination, a cover m'ember shaped to fit the opening, a pair of spacedparallel strips secured to the cover member with their ends projectingover the edges of the cover,

the other of said bars and provide a fulcrum on which the cover mayswing between open and closed positions, and spring means interposedbetween said other bar and said brackets for releasably holding the barin said recesses, said springmeans yielding to permit the cover to pivoton the flrst mentioned bar when the pressure in the tank exceeds apredetermined value with said latch means engaged.

4. A pressure release closure and the like comprising, in combination, acover member shaped to fit an opening in the tank. hinge means at oneside of the cover member supporting the member on the tank structure forpivotal movement between open and closed position. latch means at theother side of, the cover member cooperating with means on the tankstructure for latching the cover in closed position, said hinge meansincluding a trip mechanism for releasably supporting the hinge means onthe tank, said mechanism being releasable device for tanks.

4 2,279,666 Y upon application of a predetermined pressure to the innerside of the cover member whereby the member is permitted to pivot aboutsaid latching means and swing to open position.

5. The combination with a cover member for an opening in a tank or thelike, of a pressure release hinge structure comprising, a bar mounted onthe member, a pair of spaced laterally projecting brackets mounted onthe tank structure.

upwardly opening recesses in said brackets positioned to receive saidbar and provide a fulcrum for the'member, an elongated spring memberhaving its opposite ends engaged below the respective brackets, and ayoke operatively con necting the spring member to the bar substantiallyat the mid-point of the spring member 6; A closure device for openingsin tanks or the like comprising, in combination, a cover member shapedto fit an opening in the tank, latch means mounted at one side of thecover member for latching the member in closed position, hinge meansmounted at the other side of the cover member for pivotally supportingthe member, a support for mounting said hinge means on the tankstructure, and spring means interposed between said support and saidhinge means; said spring means being yieldable to permit displacement ofsaid cover member from said opening in the tank upon application of apredetermined pressure to the inner side of said cover member SAMUEL R.ETNYRE.

